How to Return Anything

Hersh is the owner of the Hollywood boutique Intuition. Her clients include Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson.

The whole point of giving a gift is to make a thoughtful gesture, so it goes without saying that you should be gracious when accepting one. That said, if someone gives you something you won't use or don't like, don't let it gather dust at the bottom of your closet.

• __ Consider the source.__ If you anticipate that you might not want to hold on to something, keep the original packaging as intact as possible. Take care when opening the gift so it's easy to reassemble later. For instance, if there's tissue that's closed with a sticker, slide the item out without tearing the seal.

• __ Make the most of it.__ If you're taking something back to a store, do it quickly—things get marked down fast. The best time for making returns is first thing in the morning, when the sales staff is fresh. It really helps to be pleasant and up-front—acknowledge that you got something as a gift, then ask what the return policy is so you can figure out your next step. The best-case scenario is usually getting store credit for the full value of the item. If you can tell that the store manager is wavering over whether to accept the return, offer to exchange it that day. Applying the credit to a bigger-ticket item usually makes things easier.

• __ Proceed with caution. __It's fine to regift an unwanted present, as long as you pass it to someone you know will enjoy and appreciate it. If you're giving it to a person who isn't in your inner circle, you don't have to admit that it's a regift. But if you're giving a friend something that you obviously didn't buy, acknowledge it with a sense of humor and add a personal touch. If you received a coffee-table book on gardens, you could regift it wrapped in botanical paper to a friend who loves flowers, and attach a packet of seeds or a tool for her garden.